Phil Ammann
Democrat Becca Tieder took another step toward challenging Clearwater Republican state Rep. Chris Latvala in House District 67.
Tieder, a Clearwater native and third-generation Floridian, has set up a Facebook political candidate page — @BeccaforFlorida — slated to “start May 1.”
According to DNS records, the domain name Becca4Florida.com has also been registered since March 28.
As Florida Politics reported earlier, House Victory and incoming Democratic leader Kionne McGhee confirmed the Florida Democratic Party is actively recruiting Teider to face Latvala, who will be seeking a third term in the Clearwater-area HD 67.
“If I run, it’s because I’m the best candidate for the seat. I’m not doing this for me — I have a great life,” Tieder, a mother of two, told reporters. “But if I feel like I can make a difference, I will run, and I will win.”
What did resonate was complaints of Tallahassee’s overreach, which included increased funding for charter schools.
“Charter schools serve a purpose, but not as a replacement for public schools,” she said; it was wrong to “give away so much of what feels like our — the public’s — responsibility.”
Tieder is active in the movement against sexual assault on college campuses. Joined by fellow activist Kelly Addington, Tieder has traveled up to 150 days a year since 2003, speaking about sexual assault awareness, prevention and sexual empowerment. According to her website, the pair has taken their message to more than a half-million students at nearly 400 college campuses.
Previously, Tieder considered a run for Pinellas County School Board in 2020 but said that after attending several board meetings, she felt the current crop of elected officials were “well suited for their jobs.”
Latvala has held the Republican-leaning HD 67 since 2014, after defeating Democrat Steve Sarnoff by six points. In 2016, he defeated Democrat David Vogel by 17 points in the district that went for Republican Donald Trump by around 4 points. Wednesday evening, Latvala is holding a campaign kickoff event in Clearwater, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Island Bay Grill, 20 Island Way.
